Load-carrying means



Dec. 2, 1947. w, A, THEAL 1 2,431,730

' LOAD CARRYING MEANS Filed April 23, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Eliza]...

Dec. 2, 1947. w. A. THEAL 2,431,780

LOAD CARRYING MEANS Filed April 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E1EE M z'zzz'am EAT/1661a Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,431,780 LOAD-CARRYING MEANS William A. Theal, Sullivan, Ind. Application April 23, 1946, Serial No. 664,358

4 Claims.

The invention aims to provide a new and improved means for permitting two men to easily carry such heavy objects as refrigerators, stoves, large loaded crates or packing boxes, etc., the construction being such that the weight is suspended from the mens shoulders, leaving their arms and hands free to steady the load.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation Showing the manner of using the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view.

A preferred construction has been illustrated and will be rather specifically described, but attention is invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Two flexible harnesses 5 and 5a are provided to be worn bytwo men facing opposite sides of the load 6, two flexible sling straps 1 and 1a are connected with the harnesses 5 and 5a respectively, to extend under the load, and a flexible tie strap 8 connects the lower portions of said sling straps 1 and 1a with each other to prevent them from slipping out of place. The entire load is suspended from the mens shoulders and their arms and hands are left free to steady the load.

The harnesses 5 and 5a and their sling straps 1 and 1a, are duplicates and a specific description of one will, therefore, sufiice. This description will be directed to harness 5 and its sling strap 1.

The harness 5 is in the general form of a figure 8, with the junction 9 of its two loops I0 located at the back of the harness, whereby one side of each loop 10 provides an arched shoulder strip 1 l extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly from the junction 9, and the other side of each loop IE! provides a rib strap 12 declining forwardly to the front end of said shoulder strap II. The ends of the sling strap 1 are connected with the lower ends of the loops l0, and these loops are of such size as to extend well below the arm pits of the wearer, for comfort and to give his arms freedom of movement at the outer sides of said loops.

In the present disclosure, each loop It] includes a side ring I 3 to which theslower ends of the two straps II and I2 are connected, and the upper ends of said straps H and I2 of both loops 10, are connected to a back ring I 4. The shoulder straps I I are adjustable in length, by means of suitable buckles [5.

The ends of the sling strap 1 are provided with snap hooks l6 engagin the side rings l 3, and said strap 1 is adjustable in length, by means of a suitable buckle l1.

The above description of the harness 5 and its sling strap 1 is readable equally well on the harness 5a and its sling strap 1a simply by adding the exponent a to each reference number used in said description.

The tie strap 8 is provided with loops l8 at its ends through which the lower portions of the sling straps 1 and 1a extend slidably, permitting centering of said tie strap 8 regardless of the lengths to which said sling straps 1 and 1a may be adjusted. This tie strap 8 is adjustable in length, by means of an appropriate buckle l9.

Either before or after the men apply their harnesses, the straps 1, 1a and 8 may be easily placed under the load by simply tilting the latter in required directions, and when the harnesses are applied and any required adjustments made, the load may be easily lifted and carried, and steadied by the hands. As it is only required that the load clear the ground or floor by a few inches, the initial lifting may be accomplished simply by straightening the legs from a knee-bent position at which the straps are taut, and this operation is much easier on the men than straightening up after bending from the waist.

From the foregoing, it Will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for attaining the desired end. Attention, however, is again invited to the possibility of making variations, and obviously I am not restricted to any material or materials. Moreover, the device may well be made of difierent sizes, if desired, instead of adjustable to fit men of all sizes.

I claim:

1. A load carrying means comprising two sling straps to extendunder the load, adjustable means connecting the lower portions of said two sling straps with each other to prevent them from slip ping from under the load, and two harnesses to be worn by two men facing opposite sides of the load, the ends of one of said sling straps being connected to one of said harnesses in positions for location at opposite sides of one of the men, the ends of the other of said sling straps being connected to the other of said harnesses in positions for location at opposite sides of the other of the men, said harnesses including shoulder straps for suspending the load from the mens shoulders, leaving the arms and hands free to steady the load.

2. A load carrying means comprising two sling straps to extend under the load, a tie strap connecting the lower portions of said two sling straps with each other to prevent them from slipping from under the load, and two harnesses to be 2,431,780 3 4 worn by two men facing opposite sides of the from said junction to the lower end of said shoul load, the ends of one of said sling straps being der strap; a second harness to be worn by a secconnected to one of said harnesses in positions nd man facing the first mentioned man, said for location at opposite sides of one of the men, second harness being substantially a duplicate of the ends of the other of said sling straps being 5 the harness aforesaid; and two sling straps to connected to the other of said harnesses in poextend under the load, the ends of one of said sitions for location at opposite sides of the other sling straps being connected with the lower ends of the men, said harnesses including shoulder of the loops of one of said harnesses, the ends straps for suspending the load from the mens of the other of said sling straps being connected shoulders, leaving; the arms and-r hands .free l0 witlLthe loweni ends of ,thel'oops of? the other of steady the-load; said harnesses; and a tie strap connecting the 3. A structure as specified in claim 2; each of lower portions of said sling straps with each other. said sling straps including means for varying its: effective length; said tie strap having loops, one WILLIAM A. THEAL. its ends through which said lower portions of' said sling straps extend slidably, whereby: said; REFERENCES CITED tie Strap may be Centered regardlesstofvtheveffecr Theefollowing references are of record in the tive lengths to which said sling straps may be file'b'fthi a e adjusted.

4. In a load carrying rneans, a harness to be UNITED STATES PATENTS worn by av man, said harness'heing intheeform N Name, Data of, a figure 8 with the; junctionof its, two, loops, 620, 94 Chadwick; 5 disposed atthe rear ofetheharness-itwhereby one; 139184502. swee'ne'a s t 19 1915 sideoieachloop may forma shou derestrap. exe I tending upwardly, forwardly and: downwardl FQREIGN PATENTS" from said junction; and the other, side, of each Number Country Date.

loop may. form a rib strap, decliningjorwardly 338,961 Italy, July, 16,1905; 

